Hargrave Falcon volleyball

Published 11:56 am, Saturday, July 22, 2017

Huffman-Hargrave junior outside hitter Lauren Russell (4) pumps up her teammates against Tarkington during their district matchup at HHHS on Oct. 7, 2016. (Photo by Jerry Baker/Freelance)

Huffman-Hargrave junior outside hitter Lauren Russell (4) pumps up her teammates against Tarkington during their district matchup at HHHS on Oct. 7, 2016. (Photo by Jerry Baker/Freelance)

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

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Tammy White only had a couple weeks to settle into her new job last season, and then the Huffman Hargrave Falcons were off and running - all the way to the fifth round of the Class 4A playoffs.

They finished 26-7 her first year, and now they're looking for more.

"It was a whirlwind," said White, the former Kingwood Park coach who was named Kelly Miser's replacement last July.

"I started very late in the summer, walking into an office with nothing there and starting from scratch ... That was a little tricky, but once we got into the gym, I have a great coaching staff, and we started placing kids where we felt like we would have success."

They enjoyed more success than any group of Falcons who came before them.

After finishing second to Tarkington in District 23-4A, they made the school's deepest postseason push.

The Falcons finally fell to Liberty Hill, which also ousted Tarkington.

"We were one game away from going to the state tournament, but Liberty Hill definitely was the better team," White said. "We gave them a run for their money. We put up some high points on them (falling 25-12, 25-20, 26-24), but with their overall physicality and skills, they were better than us."

White said they won quickly because quality players were in place - and eager to be part of something bigger than themselves.

"That's the difference between having a good season and a great season," she said.

"They were good leaders, they were good players and they ran the court well," White said.

Their replacements are ready to go.

White said the returning and up-and-coming players put in the necessary work at FAT (Falcon Athletic Training) camp, which boasted a big turnout, and in the K-Park league, where they honed their skills.

She's hoping they're in great physical condition when they report Aug. 1.

White also is looking for last year's playoff experience to pay dividends for all the younger players pulled up for the team's deep run, which allowed them to practice almost to Thanksgiving.

"It was like a separate season in itself, and so with those younger players, some of them got to see court time and some did not, but the intensity of practice and the excitement of the playoffs, during that time, is what's going to help us this year because they know what it takes to get to that next level," White said.

Russell, one of the team's kill leaders a year ago, was a first-team all-district pick as a successful junior.

"She has the best court presence possible," White said.

"She's a scrappy player who can get up well, and she can read the court and make great shots, so she's an overall court general."

Warren is coming off a promising sophomore campaign, and White said she continued to improve in the offseason.

"Casey probably is our strongest player as a middle," she said.

"She came so far last season, truly grew into her role, and went on to play basketball and soccer, and when she reported back to us she looked better than ever. I'm really excited to see what she's going to bring this year."

Hargrave also returns junior right side Dez Cardenas, another standout multi-sport athlete.

The team scrimmages Aug. 4 at New Caney Porter and Aug. 5 at K-Park and opens in a tri-match with Lumberton and New Caney on Aug. 8 at home.

"I need three more positions to fill us up," White said. "We have a really good group of eighth graders, who are coming in as freshman, and I see the potential for a quick move up for some of them, and so I have to get my hands in the dirt, work it a little bit, and then we're going to hit the court running."